Since last year’s Million Paws Walk RSPCA ACT has worked with 1,397 adult dogs and 317 puppies (1,714 in total). Domestic Animal Services (DAS) has transferred 48 dogs to us, inspectors seized 4 from cruel circumstances, 44 family pets have received free emergency boarding as part of our pet support program, 35 puppies were born at the shelter, 230 dogs and puppies were surrendered to us by families who could no longer care for them and 1,345 stray dogs were handed into RSPCA by the community.

Of these 1,714 dogs, 991 were reclaimed by their owners. Of the remaining stray dogs (354) we worked with DAS to reunite them with their owners and transferred 179 of these stray dogs to DAS and kept 175 as DAS and RSPCA work together to get the best outcome for all dogs in Canberra. We found new homes for 393 dogs and puppies, returned the 44 emergency boarding dogs to their owners, 1 dog was stolen and 9 dogs died as a result of disease/injuries at the time of entering the shelter. We took the difficult decision in 131 cases to euthanase the dog or puppy based on ongoing and irredeemable medical complications or injuries or irredeemable vicious or aggressive behaviour.

Every healthy dog was homed. Every dog with poor behaviour that our qualified trainers could manage and improve was homed. Every sick or injured dog our vets could save was saved. We’d like to thank the community for its ongoing support of RSPCA and we look forward to celebrating with animal lovers alike next Sunday.